Update - Someone just pointed out that the EU site has been updated and now shows October 13th, it either means that the patch is postponed, or that it will be deployed one week later in Europe.

Patch 4.0.1 release date
We're very close to the release of Patch 4.0.1, at this point the only question is "How close?"

As far as I can tell, you can probably expect the patch on October 5th or October 12th. Ghostcrawler already suggested that the patch would be deployed right before the end of the arena season and added that "they shouldn't have a lasting impact on ratings, titles, and the like".

Originally Posted by Ghostcrawler
(Blue Tracker)

Since the current PvP season will end when these changes go live, they shouldn't have a lasting impact on ratings, titles and the like. We are prepared to just drop a temporary player damage nerf on all BGs and Arenas if necessary just so things don't feel too silly until everyone can level up to 85.

Additionally, the World of Warcraft Trial Website has been updated and now announces that the new streaming client will be available on October 5th, which is exactly what we've been testing on 4.0.1 PTRs.

As usual, nothing is official, but it's probably close enough.

Heroic Deadmines Video
TotalBiscuit released a nice video preview of the Heroic version of the Deadmines, one of the two revamped classic dungeon of Cataclysm.

Currency Conversion - Calculator Update
The Cataclysm Currency and Honor Calculator has been updated with the latest values of Justice Points.

Originally Posted by Bashiok
(Blue Tracker)

We’ve revised the Justice Points conversion rate for Emblems of Triumph and Emblems of Frost. When the upcoming 4.0.1 patch goes live, these emblems will be converted into 11.58 Justice Points (up from the previously planned 2.75 Justice Points per emblem). Justice Points accrued above the soft cap of 4,000 will be converted to gold at a rate of 47.5 silver per point (down from 2 gold per point) when patch 4.0.3 goes live.

[...] The previous conversion rate was intended to devalue Frost and Triumph a bit to discourage some amount of farming and hoarding of points before the conversion, but then we came to the conclusion that no matter what we do people would be farming well above the softcap, and we shouldn't try to make it more difficult for them to do so.

Emblems and Badges

Honor points!

Blue Posts

Originally Posted by Blizzard Entertainment

No Worgens and Goblins before Cataclysm
Worgen and goblins require the activation of a Cataclysm key and will not be available in patch 4.0.3 until Cataclysm launches. (Source)

Patch 4.0.1 and 4.0.3
I'm not sure I understand what you're saying. These aren't filler patches we developed to tide players over. Patch 4.0.1 will implement nearly all systems changes necessary for Cataclysm (including class and UI changes). We've done this before every expansion to lay down the framework. Patch 4.0.3 brings about the Cataclysm, forever changing Azeroth.

This has always been the plan for Cataclysm, as we've never released an expansion quite like this one before. On the one hand, this expansion offers another increased level cap with all-new leveling and end-game content. On the other hand, this expansion is virtually rebuilding the content of the entire original game from the ground up.

Again, patches 4.0.1 and 4.0.3 are not offering filler content. These patches are to implement all of the new content and systems which do not require the purchase of Cataclysm. (Source)

TankingWhy was threat decay scrapped?
We still like the idea and it might return someday.

We scrapped it because we didn't think it was necessary and we wanted to focus on things we thought were necessary. We ended up changing threat modifiers quite a bit and getting rid of a lot of the threat management talents. Furthermore, Vengeance is keeping tank dps up pretty well in beta tests -- often 75% or higher of dps. Finally, it was causing a lot of concern among tanks. The intent was to make threat generation more engaging, ultimately to make tanking more fun. But I think we ended up changing so many aspects of tanking (large health pools so avoidance matters more, less AE tanking, mana mattering more, Vengeance, etc.) that changing threat on top of all of that just seemed to some* tanks to be that final straw that made Cataclysm tanking feel totally unfamiliar to them.

* -- This kind of thing is always subjective. We didn't poll every tank; nor would we put a lot of weight on that anyway. Instead, we read a lot of forums and talked to a lot of tanks we knew to gauge whether this was something they were excited about or not. We know there are tanks that hated the idea and those that will be sad to see it go, as is the case with almost any design change. I offer all of that footnote just to try and stave off some of the inevitable threads that will launch from this one. "Healers don't like running out of mana -- remove that. Warriors don't like rage normalization -- remove that." We welcome your opinions on all of those things, but encourage you not to search for the magic switch that will get us to change out minds in areas where we disagree. (Source)

Paladin/Warrior mastery undertuned?

Increasing the value per point of mastery for paladins or warriors is not hard to do. Likewise, we might shift more of the warrior mastery between block and critical block because of the value of Shield Block.

I'm also not sure we're that worried about paladins (or anyone) blocking, dodging or parrying every hit. That isn't the game breaking scenario that it used to be. If in later tiers of gear you manage to do it, probably by giving up on other stats, I'm not sure it's a huge danger. Sixty percent of damage is still a lot and none of those stats help with magic damage. In a world where two back to back normal hits could kill you, it would be a lot more valuable. In Cataclysm, it might just translate to healer mana savings. We'll keep an eye on it of course.

I don't get it, how can it be Oct 5th when
and
The Streaming Trial Download will likely be the only thing that goes 'live' on Oct 5th as to be honest there's still a fair bit to download and you won't be able to play with this client until later (Oct 12th?).

Don't go for the new streaming client - it's like changing your download software like utorrent to something else like Azureus/Vuze - just because you change the program for download, dosn't mean the content inside will change.

They should have changed the way the client works in terms of the new streaming feature, but he will still do the stage pre cata downloads and on the "4.0.1" upgrade, it will change like the old client did.

Has there been any notice whether the 4k hardcap for justice points will stay? if it does, won't it be better to convert emblems until you get ~3k points and fill up the rest of the points with raiding in 4.0 and leveling to 85?

We’ve revised the Justice Points conversion rate for Emblems of Triumph and Emblems of Frost. When the upcoming 4.0.1 patch goes live, these emblems will be converted into 11.58 Justice Points (up from the previously planned 2.75 Justice Points per emblem). Justice Points accrued above the soft cap of 4,000 will be converted to gold at a rate of 47.5 silver per point (down from 2 gold per point) when patch 4.0.3 goes live.

Curious if the new class combinations will be active, they were not on PTR

If it's not on PTR, I doubt it'll be in live, as what's being tested is going live.
Possibly in 4.0.3 (the full Cata patch) It really doesn't make sense - lore wise - to allow the new classes that come about as a result of the cataclysm before the cataclysm actually happens

Curious if the new class combinations will be active, they were not on PTR

Patch 4.0.3: The Shattering
Shortly before Cataclysm launches, Azeroth as you know it will be changed forever. Patch 4.0.3 will bring with it cataclysmic changes to the Eastern Kingdoms and Kalimdor. Players will be able to find new and exciting sights to see and quests to do in the level 1-60 zones, all-new troll and gnome introductory experiences, redesigned capital cities, new race/class combinations, and more!

That fan art...
I'm assuming it's a dwarf, with apparent human-ish proportions...
It's hard to make a little gimpy thing like a dwarf look majestic, but this is just silly (the in-game dorfs feet would be where this guys knees are now)

That's not what I was asking about. If the cap was staying at 4k all the way to 85, you'd essentially be wasting justice points after 4.0.3 seeing that you cannot go over the 4k cap, but you' most likely aquire some more JP raiding and also in cata dungeons.

Boub, doesnt this contradict your December prevision? If 4.0.1 is what its on the PTR ( Talents and such ), then you can expect the expansion a month later (?)...

Well if I understand it corrrectly there will be another patch after 4.01 (4.02 or 4.03?)that will not be the fullblown cata release but still introduces the changes to Azeroth with the new and revamped zones etc. After that cata will be released in full so the december prediction fits well in that time frame.

---------- Post added 2010-09-30 at 10:51 AM ----------

Originally Posted by koimagheul

it CANNOT be october 5th
it's been said here:
- 4.0 = end of arena season 8
- end of arena season 8 : october 12th
'nuff said

If you read GCs post carefully he says that they are prepared to release 4.01 even if there is 1 week left on season 8 as he doesn't think it will impact ratings much.

I hope this is not the patch that will turn many WOTLK titles into feats of strength. Still trying to get Immortal, Conquerer of Ulduar and Herald of the Titans.

Who cares, the game isn't even on life support anymore, the content is dead. It needs a rez, and even though I don't have everything done, I don't care. I'm not coming back to the game until changes are made, and these would be enough.

What will be interesting is how long this means until Cata. You wouldn't think they can drag this out, but I'm sure they'll want to since they went out of their way soooo much to add those little boss battles. And they though that RS was a real raid, not just filler. Late-Nov, early-early Dec looks probable at this point. And it's needed. The game is freakin' beat, it's killed. They know they screwed up on content this time.

"Since the current PvP season will end when these changes go live, they shouldn't have a lasting impact on ratings, titles and the like. We are prepared to just drop a temporary player damage nerf on all BGs and Arenas if necessary just so things don't feel too silly until everyone can level up to 85."

To me that means that the patch will come on the 12th of october. As he states "Since the current PvP season will end when these changes go live" its pretty much saying that the season will end the day of the patch.

"We are prepared to just drop a temporary player damage nerf on all BGs and Arenas if necessary just so things don't feel too silly until everyone can level up to 85."

BGs will still be available to play after the patch, so will arenas (But not rated).